1. Why did Communism collapse in Eastern Europe in 1989?

2. Learning objective – to be able to explain the collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe in 1989. I can describe the change in Eastern Europe in 1989. Grade D I can explain the collapse of Communist governments in Eastern Europe in 1989. Grade B I can evaluate the collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe in 1989. Grade A

3. Starter This collection of images of people involved in the events of 1989. During the presentation, can you identify who is in each of the pictures and write what role they played.

4. The collapse of the Brezhnev Doctrine – 1988-89 Why? Gorbachev knew that the Soviet Union could not afford to maintain its military presence in Eastern Europe. Gorbachev was keen for Eastern European countries to enjoy the benefits of perestroika and glasnost. What? Gorbachev had never actively applied the Brezhnev Doctrine as President. In December 1988, Gorbachev announced that ideology should play a smaller part in foreign affairs. This meant that the Soviet Union would no longer favour Eastern European countries in trade deals. In March 1989, Gorbachev met with all the heads of communist states in Eastern Europe and informed them that the Soviet army would no longer help them stay in power. Significant? This led to the immediate shrinking of Soviet military presence in Eastern Europe. Eastern European governments were immediately weakened as they relied upon Soviet support.

5. The reaction of Eastern European states to Gorbachev - 1989 Why? From April 1989, Soviet troops began to withdraw from Eastern Europe. What? In June 1989, Poland announced free elections and Communist Party lost with Solidarity winning a huge majority. In September 1989, Hungary opens its borders with Austria allowing thousands – particularly from East Germany - to escape to the West. There was now a massive gap in the Iron Curtain. In November 1989, the Velvet Revolution occurred in Czechoslovakia. This was a popular and peaceful protest which led to the downfall of the Czech government. In December 1989, in the only violent overthrow of a communist government, Nicolae Ceausescu was captured and shot. Significant? By New Year’s Day 1990, the only Communist country in Eastern Europe that remained was the Soviet Union.

6. The fall of the Berlin Wall - 1989 Why? East Germany was slow to embrace Perestroika and Glasnost. Of all the European Communist countries, East Germany was the most hardline. East German citizens saw the freedoms that its neighbours got after abandoning Communism. They wanted the same freedoms. October 1989 saw Erich Honecker, the East German leader resign. This gave hope of change. What? Seeing neighbouring countries granting more freedom, East Germany felt obliged to grant its citizens greater movement and travel. As part of this, it was announced on 9 th November that citizens would be allowed to cross the border to West Berlin. This led to thousands of East Germans flooding the checkpoints of the Berlin Wall demanding to cross to border. The guards let them through and the Berlin Wall had fallen with many cutting huge chunks out of it. Significant? The Iron Curtain was no more, but this was not the end of the Cold War. The fall of the Berlin Wall made German reunification inevitable.

7. The end of the Warsaw Pact - 1991 Why? By the end of 1989, all the Communist governments had fallen. The Warsaw Pact that held Communist countries together against the West no longer served any purpose and was redundant. What? Military co-operation in Eastern Europe ended in January 1990. The Warsaw Pact meant nothing and was dissolved in 1991. Significant? Eastern Europe was no longer bound militarily to the Soviet Union.

8. Tasks Complete a timeline of the key events of 1989 in your exercise books. Stick the visual hexagon pattern in your book and make as many connections as you can.

9. Extension Task Using your completed scale, answer the following exam style questions – Describe the key features of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Outline two reasons why Gorbachev changed his approach towards Eastern Europe between 1985 and 1991.